The Russellville Democrat., 1887-06-08

if he can help it."
 Just then the door opened and a Ipale, thin woman came Tn, laden with packages.
 | She laid all down, and came to her children's bed, clasping her hands Tn rapture.
 "Joy! joy, children 0, joy, joy 1 Christ is coming. He will be here to morrow"
 Every little bird in the nest was up, and the little arms around the mothers neck the children believed at once. They had heard of the good Jesus. He had been their mothers only friend through many cold and hungry day, and they doubted not He was coming.
 70, mother! will He take us? He will, won't He?"
 "Yes my little ones," she said soft ly, smiling to herself; "He shall gather the lambs with Ills arms, and carry them in His bosom" I Suddenly as by the slide of mag ic lantern, another scene was present. l We stood Tn lonely room, where a woman was ting with her head 
 bowed forward upon her hands. Alone, forsaken, slandered, she was in bitterness of spirit. Hard, cruel tongues had spoken her name with vile assertions, and thoughtless world had believed There had been babble of accusation, crowd to rejoice in iniquity, and few to pity. She thought herself alone, and she spoke: Judge me, o Lord for have walked in my integrity I am monster unto many, but thou art my strong refuge
 In c moment the angel touched her. "My sister, he said, "be of good cheer. Christ will be here to- morrow"
 l She started up, with her hands clasped, her eyes bright, her whole form dilated, as she seemed to look into the heavens, and said with rap ture:..
 "Come. Lord, and judge me; for thou knowest me altogether. Come, Son of Man, in thee have 1 trusted let me never be confounded. O. for the judgement seat of Christr' l Again l stood In a brilliant room full of luxuries. Three or four fair women were standing pensively talk ing with each other. Their apart ment was bestrewn with jewelry, laees, silks, and every fancilul ee. gance of fashion, but they looked troubled.
 "This seems to me really awfui, said one with suppressed sigh. "What troubles me is 1 know so lit tie about it"
 "Yes,"n said another, "and It puts stop to everything? Of what use will all these be tomorrow"
 
 There was poor seamstress in tue cornor of the room who now spoke. I've shall be ever with the Lord," she said.
 sIm sure I don't know what that can mean" said the first speaker, with klnd of shudder, 'it seems rather fearful"
 "Wcll," said the other, "it seems so sudden--when one never dreamed of such thing-to change all at once from this to that other life"
 1t Is enough to be with Him, ] said the poor women. 70, l have SC longed for it" 'Frhe great gulf again sald the angel.
 Then again we stood on the steps of church. A band of clergvmen were together. Episcopalian, Meth odist, Baptlst Presbyterian, Old School and New school, all stood hand in hand.
 "It's no matter now about these old issues" they said. "He IS com ing; He wlll settle all. Ordinances sacraments, creeds, are nothing. They are the shadow; the substance is Christ" And hand in hand they turned their faces when the Christ mas morning light began faintIy glowing, and I heard them saying to- gether, with one heart and voice.
 Come, Lord Jesus come quick ly."-II Harriet Beeeher Stowe.